Grant to fund touch tank for nature center

ANSONIA - The Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc. (FANCI) recently received a $3,000 grant from the Valley Community Foundation.

The grant will enable the Friends to purchase a 50-gallon classroom touch tank to be used for educational purposes at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road.

Richard Wade, President of FANCI, said, “The Friends wish to express their heartfelt appreciation to The Valley Community Foundation for their continuing generous support of the Friends’ mission to support the Ansonia Nature Center.”

The new touch tank will provide a classroom habitat for creatures that live in the Redwing Pond located at the nature center.

Touch tanks promote interactive learning by producing a freshwater pond habitat in the classroom where students are able to study and learn through a hands-on experience that can not be duplicated except at a natural pond.
Students will develop a deep appreciation for the importance of freshwater habitats, and a unique understanding of the creatures that live there.
Since The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center is located in the Lower Naugatuck River watershed area it is imperative that residents are motivated to take a personal responsibility for their actions and habits which sometimes have a negative impact on our water quality.

This project is consistent with the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center's vision which is focused on appreciation of a diverse and healthy natural world in the Lower Naugatuck Valley.
Through place-based environmental education and advocacy the center promotes sustainable land use practices and renewable energy technology to protect and preserve a healthy environment.

The above was taken from a release from the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center.